January 21, 2013

Clues to Ancient Mars Life May Be Underground

The key to exposing past life on Mars may lie in watery, underground channels, a group of planetary geologists has proposed after studying a 92km crater on its surface.

The team used images and data captured by Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to draw their conclusions, after identifying sedimentary rock layers at the base of McLaughlin Crater (located on the western side of Arabia Terra) containing clay and carbonate minerals.